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Virginia Carter Castleman photograph collection
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Held at: Drexel University: Archives and Special Collections [Contact Us]W. W. Hagerty Library, 3300 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Drexel University: Archives and Special Collections. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
Virginia Carter Castleman, an 1899 graduate of Drexel's library school, was born in Herndon, Virginia, in 1864. Her mother established the Herndon Seminary for Girls in her residence around 1870. Her father was an Episcopal clergyman. Prior to her time at Drexel, Ms. Castleman attended the Edgeworth Institute in Baltimore. While attending Drexel in 1898 and 1899, she wrote the Drexel Ode. After graduation she worked as a book cataloger at the University of Pennsylvania, then as an instructor in Washington, D.C., and Boise, Idaho. At some point after 1904, Ms. Castleman returned to her hometown in Virginia. Along with her sisters, she formed a library association and eventually established a lending library for Herndon. During her life, Virginia Castleman published a number of books including works of fiction, poetry and children’s books. She also published the reminiscences of Kitty Kitchen, a Herndon resident whose husband fought for the Union during the Civil War. Virginia Carter Castleman died in Herndon in 1937.
This collection consists of nineteen photographs showing many aspects of student life at Drexel in 1898-1899. It includes interior shots of the Main Building, the library in the Main Building, student boarding facilities, the Drexel Museum, the exterior of Boarding House Row, and University of Pennsylvania buildings. The photos show library employees and students at work, Drexel president James Macalister in his office, and art students painting in a studio. Also included with the collection is one folder of research notes compiled for an exhibit in 2005.
According to a 28 May 2003 memo from Guy G. Garrison, Ph.D., Professor and Dean Emeritus: "This pack of photos has been around the College for a long time. They were presumably given to Drexel at some point by Virginia C. Castleman, a graduate of the Library School in 1899, and the author of the Drexel Ode. The Mrs. Gardner Hendrix, whose name is on the torn Publishers' Weekly envelope [retained with collection], is presumably Fannie Hendrix, a long-time Drexel staff support member, perhaps 1930s to 1950s..." This memo is included with the file of research notes.
An online exhibit is available at: http://www.library.drexel.edu/archives/exhibits/castlemanintro.html
Organization
Subject
- Publisher
- Drexel University: Archives and Special Collections
- Finding Aid Author
- Finding aid prepared by Pam Bennett; Katelyn Wolfrom
- Finding Aid Date
- 2008
- Access Restrictions
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None.
Collection Inventory
Virginia C. Castleman in her room. The diary referred to here was once owned by Drexel but has since been lost.
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Interior of Virginia C. Castleman’s room.
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on reverse: "Mr. Dill writing to his sweetheart."
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"The snowdrifts were a sight to behold for many days." Exterior of private housing used by Drexel students, possibly in the vicinity of 34th Street near the University of Pennsylvania.
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Interior of library, originally located in the southwest corner on the first floor of the Main Building. "Miss Buhrman"
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on face: "The charging department where we circulate the books."
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on face: "Our usual work is cataloguing of books."
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on the face: "Marble stairway and frescoed wall."
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on the face: "Library classroom"
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on the face: "Among the daily sights of my Alma Mater, none interest me more than the art student"
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on the Face: "The autograph and maunscript cases"
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on the face: "The Enchanted Palace"
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on the face: "These ferns are my envy."
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on the face: "The President's office."
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